Page 31 - August 2018

t Because acid from cheap paper af ects any other paper Storage Furniture and Buildings
it comes in direct contact with, you should separate more Once you have your collection safely in folders and boxes,
acidic from less acidic items. Newspaper clippings, for you can put everything into storage rooms. T e best f at
example, are extremely acidic and can stain or discolor f les and shelving for documents and books are made of
historical manuscripts and books. Always remove anodized aluminum or steel with various powder coatings.
newspaper clippings from Masonic manuscripts or books T ey should have a smooth, nonabrasive f nish. Baked
and place them in acid-free envelopes. Use an Abbey pH enamel and wood give of harmful acids and gases such
h pen on a small, unseen corner to tell if paper is acidic or as formaldehyde, so you should avoid them. Drawers in
r alkaline. A mark made on acidic paper will turn yellow, f at f les should be no more than two inches deep, because
f
while a mark on alkaline paper will turn purple. stacking items in deep drawers puts extra weight on the ones
Do not unfold documents and manuscripts for storage on the bottom. T is weight causes stress on them when they
unless you can do so without splitting, breaking, or damaging are removed. Careful storage of items will protect them and
them. If the paper is f exible and will lie f at in a folder, you make it easier to handle them safely when you need them.
can unfold it. Otherwise, leave the document folded until Shelves should not be placed directly against exterior or
you can consult with a conservator. Before storing historic basement walls because excessive moisture or condensation
documents, remove all fasteners, including staples, paper can build up or actual leaks can develop. Never store
e clips, rubber bands, and pins. Place about ten to f f een materials below water pipes, steam pipes, lavatories, air
n sheets of paper in each folder, unless the documents are conditioning equipment, or any other potential sources of
especially valuable or fragile. T en fewer sheets should be leakage. Leaky pipes can cause serious harm to collections
k stored in each folder. (see Figure 5).
e
Keep the folders in acid-free, lignin-free storage boxes.
All folders should conform to the size of the box. Do not
stuf or overcrowd boxes. Boxes can be stored either f at
or upright. Flat storage supports the documents, prevents
their edges from crumbling, and keeps the paper from
becoming curved. However, f at storage causes documents
in the bottom of the box to bear the weight of those above.
For example, a delicate parchment Masonic charter might
be crushed if it is stored in the bottom of a box full of
certif cates. Documents and folders can be stored upright
if they are supported by spacer boards, which are pieces of
corrugated acid-free paperboard you insert into a box to
take up unused space and support the documents. T ese
spacer boards prevent documents from curving and protect
their edges from damage. Make sure that no folders and
boxes are too large or heavy for you to handle safely.
Once you have inserted individual photographs into
plastic sleeves, they should be stored f at, to provide overall
support and avoid bending. As with documents, similar-
sized items should be stored together in f at f les or f at Figure 5. Never store boxes of documents under pipes that may
boxes. Storing items of dif erent sizes together can cause leak. Courtesy of Gaylord Bros.
scratching and breaking.
e Storage Methods for Books Store historic material at least four inches above the f oor,
d Books should be stored upright on shelves with other and avoid keeping them in basements or attics. For good
t books of the same size, with bookends at both ends of each ventilation, there should be at least twelve inches between
r shelf. Shelves should be full, but not too tight. When books any storage unit and the wall or ceiling. Avoid structural
h elements such as pipes or light f xtures. To help prevent
lean to one side or the other, their bindings can become
strained. If books are shelved too tightly, the bindings can leaks, have your roof inspected regularly and repaired as
be damaged when you remove them from the shelf. When needed. Also, clean your gutters and drains frequently.
removing a book from the shelf, grasp it by the middle of With these suggestions in hand, you can start preserving
u its spine, not the top or bottom. Oversize books should be your Masonic lodge collections right away. Start piece by
y stored f at on separate shelves, giving them the support piece, then group the items, and then store everything in a
they need. Before putting books on the shelves, remove special room.
n all bookmarks, newspaper clippings, and pressed f owers WORKING WITH A CONSERVATOR
y from between the pages. T ese items are acidic, and can Some items in a collection of historic documents,
r damage or discolor the paper. Do not use Scotch tape to photographs, or books are so signif cant and fragile that
n mend detached bindings. Instead use neutral pH glue they need conservation—that is, they require more care
such as Lineco, which you can purchase from University
Products (see supplier list at the end) or consult with a book Continued Page 32
conservator.
Volume 94 Number 6 Montana Freemason Page 31